PHILIPPI
NES
Si Mabuti
Author: Genoveva EdrozaMatute
Siya ay isang bantag na kwentistang
Pilipino. Isa rin siyang guro, nagturo ng
asignaturang Filipino at pang edukasyon at may
akda ng aklat sa Balarilang Tagalog. Siya ay
pinanganak noong Enero 3, 1915. Lumaki sa
Tayuman-Oroquieta malapit sa karerahan ng mga
kabayo sa San Lazaro. Ang kanyang ama ay si
Anastacio B. Edroza. Ang kanyang ina ay si
Magdalena K. Dizon. Siyam na kapatid ang namatay
at karamihan ay wala pang isang taon ang itinagal
sanhi ng pagkakasakit. Ang kanyang asawa ay si
Epifanio G. Matute. Ang mga katangian ni Aling
Bebang ay mapagmahal, masipag, matalino at
matulungin. Naging mahusay na guro sa loob ng 46
taon na kanyang pagtuturo sa elementarya,
sekondarya at kolehiyo. Nagretiro bilang Dekada ng
pagtuturo sa dalubhasang normal sa Pilipinas noong
1980. Namatay siya noong Marso 21, 2009 sa edad
na 94. Pinarangalan siya ng Sentrong Pangkultura ng
Pilipinas ng Gawad CCP para sa sining (Panitikan)
noong 1992. Maraming ulit siyang nagkamit ng
Gawad Palanca Award tulad ng kilalang kwento ni
Mabuti na nanalo ng kauna-unahang Gawad Palanca
Award para sa maikling kuwento sa Filipino.
Maging ang Paglalayag sa puso ng isang Bata noong
1955 at an g Parusa noong 1961.
Katangian niya sa pagsulat ng
maikling kwento
 Pagpapahiwatig ang isang matingkad na
katangian ng mga kuwento ni Genoveva Edroza
Matute. Karaniwang magtutuon siya sa isa o
dalawang tauhan, at sa mga tauhang ito ay lalaruin
niya ang banghay at gusot ng kuwento. Ang pingas
o puntos ng tauhan ay maaaring nasa kapasiyahan
nito, at hindi dahil sa taglay na personal at panlabas
na anyo. Sa mga matagumpay niyang kuwento, ang
mga tauhan ay pumupukol ng mabibilis na salitaan,
o nagsasalita sa guniguni, at ang mga kataga ay
waring makapaglalagos sa kalooban ng mambabasa.
Sumasabay din ang mga kuwento ni Aling Bebang,
palayaw ni Matute, sa mga kasalukuyang pangyayari
na kung minsan ay nakalulugod at kung minsan ay
nakaiinis, at kung ano man ang epekto nito sa
mambabasa’y mauugat sa lalim ng pagkaunawa ng
manunulat sa kaniyang pinapaksa.
Kahulugan ng Salita
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Malirip
- Maunawaan
Kaabaan - Kaawaan
Napatda
- Nadikit
Patighaw sa kauhawan
- Pang-alis ng
kamangmangan
Humanismo
Ito ang pananaw na ang uniberso ay nakasentro
sa tao sa halip na sa Diyos. Sa pilosopiya, ito ang
atityud na nagbibigay-diin
sa dignidad at
kahalagahan ng isang tao. Ito ang basikong saligan
ng paniniwalang ang mga tao ay nilikhang rasyonal
at taglay sa kanilang sarili sa kapasidad para
sa katotohanan at kabutihan. Sa panitikan, ang
pangunahing katangian ng
humanismo
ay
kahinahunan, anyo, at limitasyon ng mga klasiko.
Sa paglakad ng mga taon, umusbong ang
bagong humanismo. Ayon sa mga tagasunod nito,
hindi dapat ipaliwanag ang kalagayan ng tao sa
pamamagitan ng herediti at kapaligiran, dahil ang
tao ay may malayang pagpapasiya. Siya ay
malayang nakakapagdesisyon kung alin ang mabuti
o masama sa kanya.
Banghay ng Kwento
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Ito ang pagkakaayos ng aksyon o sa kadena
ng mga pangyayaring bumubuo sa kwento.
Binubuo ito ng eksposisyon, papataas na
aksyon, kasukdulan, pababang aksyon, at
kongklusyon.
Eksposisyon
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Nagkuwento ang nareytor tungkol sa isang
guro na tinawag nilang “Mabuti”.
Papataas na Aksyon
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Nakita ni Mabuti ang nareytor na umiiyak.
Kaya lumapit sa kanya si Mabuti at
tinanong kung
bakit siya lumuluha.
Nalaman din niya na doon din lumuha si
Mabuti.
Kasukdulan
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Naiba ang pagtingin ng nareytor kay
Mabuti. Naging maganda na ang pagtingin
niya sa kanya.
Pababang Aksyon
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Nalaman niya ang katotohanan at siya ay
naghintay ng mga bakas ng kapaitan mga
sinasabi ni Mabuti.
Konklusyon
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Napagtanto nila ang kagandahan ng
Panitikan, ang aral na tinuturo sa kanila ni
Mabuti.
Emotional Appeal
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Emotional appeal moves the emotion of the
reader or audience. It is a way or method
used by the author to create emotional
response among his reader or audience.
Persuasive writing is used. The language
should sway the emotion to convince the
readers. The author fills more emotional
content with descriptive details to make the
readers feel the scene.
Metaphor or simile is often used to create
comparison to feel the connection in the
story.
Authors show emotional scenes rather than
telling, making characters sympathetic or
unsympathetic, using words which can
greatly affect reader emotions, turning the
story in an unexpected direction, and using
details to mire readers in the reality of the
scene.
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Tata Selo
Author: Rogelio Sicat
 Born: June 26, 1940
 Died: 1997 (aged 56–57)
 Pen name: Rogelio Sikat
 Occupation:
Novelist,
writer
 Nationality: Filipino
 Alma mater: University of
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Santo Tomas
Genre: sociocultural background of the
Philippines
Subject: social issues and land reform
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Questions:
What narration is used in this fiction?
 An author uses narrative conventions in
writing fictions. They are the techniques
used by the author in making meaning in the
fiction. These may be particular to
characters, development of plot, settings,
point-of-view, or style.
 With regard to plot convention, it has a
number of techniques. These are backstory,
tells the events of the story that happen
before the present story; Chekhov’s gun,
tells of an inherent object inserted in the
narrative; in medias res, narration that starts
at the middle of the story; narrative hook,
tells a catchy story opening to hook the
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attention of the readers; story within a story
or hypodiegesis, tells a story within a story;
deus-ex- Machina, tells a good character in
a bad situation ensures character wins with
an unexpected or implausible used to
resolve the situation; plot twist, tells a
surprise ending; poetic justice, tells a reward
to the good characters and punishes the bad
characters;
With regard to plot convention, it has
number of techniques. These are backstory,
tells the events of the story that happen
before the present story; Chekhov’s gun,
tells of an inherent object inserted in the
narrative; cliffhanger, tells and abrupt
ending which places the main characters in
a perilous situation with no resolution;
flashback, tells an interjected scene of the
story that takes it back in time from the
current point in the story and often used to
tell the events that happened before another
important event; flash forward tells a scene
that takes the narrative to a future time from
the current point of the story;
foreshadowing, indicates or hints something
is coming in the latter part of the story
Point-of-view is a narrative convention
which tells from whose perspective is the
story told. It may be a character, first person
point-of view; third person narrator, telling
the story by an impersonal narrator not
affected by story situations; and unreliable
narrator, telling the story by an insincere
narrator, misleading the readers; stream of
consciousness, exposing the character’s
mind to the readers through his monologue;
audience surrogate, character who expresses
queries or agitations which are the same
questions that readers would ask
Another convention is style. There are also
a number of techniques under this
convention. Figures of speech like
hyperbole,
metonymy,
euphemism,
oxymoron, and many more are style
techniques. Pathos or emotional appeal is
another style technique used to inspire or
pity a character.
In addition to these techniques for style are
sensory detail, which forms mental images
of scenes using descriptive words;
Leitwortstil, which repeats on purpose the
words that usually express a motif or theme
important to the story; dramatic
visualization, which presents an object or
character with much description or gestures
and dialogues making scenes vivid for the
audience.
Literary Approach
Another approach that shapes the mind of
literary enthusiasts is formalism which is also called
new criticism. This uses close reading of a piece of
literature. This means that the formalists’
interpretation of a work of art is formulated by the
information and details of the piece itself. Formalists
do not interpret a work based on matters that are
outside the confines of the work like history, politics,
society, time or even the author. They see it
autonomously and can be gauged through internal
structure and language. Considered are form,
structure, technical features as more important than
the content and context.
Formalist’s focus is on rhetorical and logical
connections within the writing. Moreover, formalists
look into the sound and syntax of poetic language,
rhyme, repetitions and word pictures. This criticism
favors medium over content. Also, this criticism
philosophically questions the method of
communicating ideas and value expression. It looks
into the manipulation of language by the artist to
achieve the aesthetic effect
Morning in Nagreban
Manuel E. Arguilla
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Born on June 17 1911
An Ilokano writer in English, patriot, and
martyr.
Son of Crisanto Arguilla, a farmer and
Margarita Estabillo, a potter.
known for his widely anthologized short
story “how my brother leon brought home a
wife”.
He studied at the University of the
Philippines where he finished BS Education
in 1933
Became a member and later the president of
the U.P writers club and editor of the
university’s Literary Apprentice
He married Lydia Villanueva, another
writer in English, and they lived in Ermita,
Manila
He became a creative writing teacher at the
University of Manila and later worked at the
bureau of public welfare advocate until
1943. He was later appointed to the board of
censors.
He secretly organized a guerilla intelligence
unit against the Japanese.
In 1944 he was imprisoned at fort Santiago
with his family.
His family was later freed but Manuel was
sentenced to death
In October 1944, he was captured, tortured
and executed by the Japanese army at Fort
Santiago. He died at the age of 33
Questions:
Who are the characters?
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BALDO-a ten-year old boy. Oldest of the
two brothers. The owner of the blackspotted dog
 AMBO- a seven-yearold kid. Brother of
Baldo
 Nana Elang- mother of the two brothers
thin, wispy woman with bony hands and
arms.
 Tang Ciaco- a big, gaunt man with thick,
bony wrist and shoulders. He was a
carpenter. A drunk man
Where is the setting?
 It was sunrise in Nagrebcan.
 The fine, bluish mist, low over the tobacco
fields, was lifting away the morning breeze.
Exposition:
It was the usual early start of day in
Nagrebcan where people start off on their daily
chores. It was very peaceful, Baldo had just woken
up, he played with his puppy, it was his favorite one
among the five, a white one with black spots. Her
mother asked him to get some burning coals and
putting them on a rice straw from a neighbor. After
he did what his mother told him he went back to his
favorite puppy.
Rising Action:
He saw his brother Ambo eating a banana
without peeling it first, he told his brother to peel it
first before eating but his brother just ignored him
telling him that it wasn’t his banana and he wasn’t
the one eating it, he did not listen.
He saw his brother Ambo eating a banana
without peeling it first, he told his brother to peel it
first before eating but his brother just ignored him
telling him that it wasn’t his banana and he wasn’t
the one eating it, he did not listen.
Climax:
Tang Ciaco saw the puppy snarling with its
hairs standing, he thought that it was mad so he went
to the kitchen and took a piece of firewood. He beat
the poor puppy and it was flown to the air, until
blood went out from its mouth, he did not stopped
until it was fully dead, then he threw the corpse on
the cornfields.
Falling Action:
After he killed the puppy he went to the boys
and beat them, their mother can’t do anything
because she knows she would only get beaten.
Resolution:
After the boys were beaten, their father went
off to work, Baldo and Ambo went to the cornfields
to search for the corpse of the puppy, when they
found it, they buried it. And above the resting place
of the poor puppy, they rolled a rock.
Symbol in Literature:
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anything that stands for something else.
Authors use symbols to give deeper and
significant meaning to their content or story.
Symbolism makes the author convey ideas
to readers/ audience in a poetic matter
instead of its outright expression.
Examples:
 Poseidon is a symbol for the sea
 Albert Einstein is the symbol of
intelligence and scientific genius
 The dove is a symbol of peace
 A ladder may be a symbol for a
connection between heaven and
earth
VIETNA
M
Poetry
It is literature that evokes a concentrated
imaginative awareness of experience or a specific
emotional response through language chosen and
arranged for its meaning, sound, and rhythm.
Type of Poetry
Lyric Poem – short, contains highly musical verses
that convey powerful feelings. Uses literary devices
like rhyme and meter which makes it akin to a
song/ create a song-like quality.
Narrative Poetry - Tells stories through its verses
that has plot, characters, and settings. Combines
action and dialogue with literary devices similar to a
novel or short story. Using a range of poetic
techniques such as rhyme and meter, narrative
poetry presents a series of events, often including
action and dialogue.
Descriptive Poetry - Often contains lengthy verses
to properly convey the subject. Uses detailed words
on to create imagery like a person, animal or
inanimate object.
Subtypes of Poetry
Sonnet - is a poem with 14 lines. Sonnets use one of
several set rhymes schemes. The two main sonnet
types are the Italian and English version.
Haiku - is a Japanese form of poetry designed to be
very compact. Haiku poems can focus on everyday
experiences, feelings and nature. Because haikus
have limited space, they must use simple words and
grammar. Haikus do not rhyme and are short. The
most common only have three lines, with the middle
line having seven syllables and the first and last lines
five. This brevity can sometimes make the poem
harder to write, because it must create a memorable
image with few words.
Elegy poetry - traces back to the ancient Greek
tradition of “elegeia.” This term referred to a poetic
verse that is phrased in elegiac couplets, addressing
topics such as loss, death, love, and war.
Limericks - are poems with five lines. One line is a
couplet and one is a triplet. Lines 1, 2 and 5 have an
aabba pattern. Lines 3 and 4 have two beats that
rhyme. Limericks are written to be funny. The last
line of the limerick is meant to deliver a punch line.
Ballad - is a poem that tells a story, usually (but not
always) in four-line stanzas called quatrains. The
ballad form is enormously diverse, and poems in this
form may have any one of hundreds of different
rhyme schemes and meters.
Odes - are long and serious poems that use elaborate
structure. The original odes were Greek and Roman.
Odes usually gave praise to a person, such as
someone who succeeds during an athletic event.
Odes usually have structure, but the poet can choose
the structure, which gives this poem an oftenirregular form.
Sound Devices of Poetry
Alliteration - the occurrence of the same letter or
sound at the beginning
Assonance - is the repetition of vowel sounds in the
same line.
Consonance - is the repetition of consonant sounds
in the same line.
Onomatopoeia - refers to the word which imitates
the natural sounds of the things.
Rhyme - also spelled rime, the correspondence of
two or more words with similar-sounding final
syllables placed so as to echo one another.
Rhythm - can be described as the beat and pace of a
poem.
Figurative Devices of Poetry
Simile - is a figure of speech that compares two
separate concepts through the use of a clear
connecting word such as “like” or “as.”
Metaphor - is like a simile, but without connecting
words. It simply posits that two separate things are
the same.
Personification - projects human qualities onto
inanimate objects, or perhaps animals or natural
elements.
Irony - implies a distance between what is said and
what is meant. Based on the context, the reader is
able to see the implied meaning in spite of the
contradiction.
Metonymy - is a figure of speech in which one
object or idea takes the place of another with which
it has a close association.
Synecdoche - is a literary device that refers to a
whole as one of its parts.
Vietnamese Flag
The Vietnamese flag consists of a golden
star where its five points represent the farmers,
workers, intellectuals, youth, and soldiers.
Additionally, the red background of it pays tribute to
the bloodshed during wars.
The Cherished Daughter
Anonymous (c. 1700 AD),
translated by Nguyen Ngoc Bich
from World Poetry: An Anthology of Verse from Antiquity
Vocabulary
Magpie - used in similes or comparisons to refer to
a person who collects things, especially things of
little use or value, or a person who chatters idly.
Matchmaker - a person who arranges relationships
and marriages between others, either informally or,
in certain cultural communities, as a formal
occupation.
Areca nuts - the astringent seed of an areca palm
(Areca catechu), which is often chewed with betel
leaves.
Suit of Clothes - a set of garments (usually
including jacket and trousers or skirt) for outerwear
all of the same fabric and color.
Understanding:
Do you believe that the daughter is cherished?
Defend your answer.
The daughter in the poem is definitely
cherished by her mother, perhaps even too much. It
started when she showed her mother her desire for a
husband at eighteen years old. However, the mother
proposed challenges that would shoo suitors away.
It went on until she reached forty-three years old and
still has no husband.
What is the present-day equivalent of magpie
from the context?
When talking about the present day, the
magpie could be referring to gossipers that know a
lot about other people. Just like in the poem, these
modern magpies would know the circumstances that
others are facing.
What culture of the Vietnamese is shown in the
poem?
`The poem displayed the culture of Vietnamese
parents being overprotective of their children
especially when it comes to marriage. This trait is
common in many Asian countries. It was not too
evident in the first verse but became obvious when
it went on as the daughter grew older.
Comment on the value of challenges of the
mother.
It started with a challenge composed of
valuable items like five thousand areca nuts, at least
five full quan, five fat pigs, and five suits of clothes.
However, the difficulty of the challenges went down
as the daughter gets older. The daughter’s age
attributed to the difficulty of the challenges because
the parent may have thought that her child’s value to
suitors has gotten lower as well.
How do you feel for the daughter at forty-three?
Remaining single for at least forty-three
years has certainly affected the daughter’s social life.
At that age, most of us would have lost hope in
getting a romantic partner which she displays later
on in the poem. With all these in mind, the best word
that we could use to describe how we feel for her
would have to be pity.
What family, economic, education, and social
values should be cherished based on the poem?
One of the values that should be cherished
based on the poem is respecting parents’ decisions.
Another value explored in the poem is knowing that
a person should aim to gain something through their
perceived value.
Does obedience always give optimistic result?
Obedience, while helpful to some extent,
should be limited especially when an individual has
the capacity to think for themselves. Ignorant
obedience would only lead to one’s downfall as they
do not question why such obedience is needed.
Obedience can give optimistic results but it is better
to practice critical thinking and independence in the
long run.
Vietnamese Names:
About 40% of the Vietnamese population
bears the name Nguyen. This is because the Ly
dynasty descendants were forced to change their
surname into Nguyen after the Ly dynasty was
overthrown from power.
A School Boy’s Apology
By: Le Thanh Huan
Vocabulary
Shrivel - lose momentum, will, or desire; become
insignificant or ineffectual.
Dewdrop - a drop of dew.
Partitioned - divide into parts.
Understanding:
Why is the persona in the poem apologizing? Is it
a proper act?
As we are reading the poem, we understood
that the boy suffers from a post traumatic disorder
(PTSD) from the war. He is apologizing maybe
because he is disturbing the class from the traumatic
experiences, he suffered in which he did not mean to
do in the first place. And yes, it is a proper act of
apology, showing your sorry for what you have done
to others is a proper act on an apology for us.
What does the 2nd stanza talk about the persona?
The 2nd stanza tells us about how the school
boy dreams. A young mind that has freedom about
what he can have on the future. He is thinking that
his life is just beginning and still clinging to his hope
and dream to be a sailor and let the stream carry him
away.
What does the use of the word “but” as the start
of stanza three suggest?
The use of “but” contradicts the second
stanza. Chaos, war and sorrow easily overrides the
hope and happiness the boy felt. It is likely the root
of his trauma and what he has endured.
What does this (stanza three) tell about the
persona?
The third stanza tell us what happened to our
school boy. He described what he have seen, the
guns, bloods, the sound of crashing steel and even
the slaughtering that surrounds him.
Top Exporter
Vietnam is the number one country in terms
of rice exports. Additionally, Vietnam ranks second
in exporting coffee next to Brazil.
Inside Submarines
By: Phan Nhien Hao
tr.: Linh Dinh
Phan Nhien Hao
Phan Nhiên Hạo was born in Kontum,
Vietnam in 1967 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1991.
He is the author of two collections of poems in
Vietnamese, Thiên Đường Chuông Giấy (Paradise
of Paper Bells, 1998) and Chế Tạo Thơ Ca 99-04
(Manufacturing Poetry 99-04, 2004).
He received a B.A. in Vietnamese Literature
from the Teachers College in Saigon, a B.A. in
American Literature from UCLA, and a Masters in
Library Science, also from UCLA.
Phan’s poems address the country’s postwar disasters: hunger and reeducation camps,
corruption and market reform.
Vocabulary
Odd-shaped - an irregular shape doesn't have equal
sides or equal angles.
Illusion - a thing that is or is likely to be wrongly
perceived or interpreted by the senses.
Void - not valid or legally binding.
Vague - uncertain, indefinite, or unclear character or
meaning.
Rouse - cause to feel angry or excited.
Understanding:
How critical is it to be a crew of a submarine as
shared in the first stanza?
The first stanza of the poem narrates the
danger of being a crew of a submarine as they go
deeper in the ocean. There are a lot of unknowns and
uncertainties that humans have not reached or
discovered yet beneath the ocean where pure
darkness resides. “Vague connections” indicate the
difficulty of signal and communication to sometimes
reach the submarine therefore help would be scarce
under these circumstances.
What is meant by chasing after secrets and the
darkness of the ocean?
Chasing after secrets and the darkness of the
ocean means the exploration of the unknowns as
well as the dangers deeper under the ocean. Majority
of the areas of the oceans still remain unexplored
because of the dangers with it.
Can a life jacket save life when a submarine has
been hit by anything in the water?
Yes, life jackets can save lives depending on
some conditions like the strength of hit impact, the
status in the submarine, the depth where the
submarine is and more. As one goes deeper in the
ocean, the pressure rises which may crush the crew
beneath the ocean even with a floating device such
as the life jacket.
How can the persona slice the earth in half along
the dotted line? Which is referred to as the dotted
line?
The phrase “slice the earth in half” may be a
figure of speech, specifically hyperbole, which
exaggerates and emphasizes exploring around the
world inside a submarine. The dotted line refers to
the equator where he/she plans to travel around the
world.
Why was he trying to slice the equator?
Slicing the equator figuratively may be a
part of his exploration job as a crew in a submarine.
It can also be a way to relieve stress in a dangerous
environment by doing what he likes.
Who probably is this someone?
This someone might be his crewmate and
friend since he/she is with the narrator in the
submarine and he/she called the narrator a “friend.”
What could happen when he sliced the earth?
If he is literally meaning to slice the earth,
the earthquakes and chaos would shake and destroy
every part of the world and the human race. If he
figuratively means it, exploring around the world
may unlock knowledge and keys on the unknowns
of the ocean.
Vehicles
Vietnam has roughly 1.6 million cars,
however the country’s number one means of
transportation is the motorbike. It is said that the
country has around 37 million motorbikes.
BRUNEI
Country of Brunei
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Brunei is an independent sultanate on the
Northwest coast of the island of Borneo in
the South China Sea.
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Brunei duly gained independence on
January 1, 1984 and an Islamic sultanate
was proclaimed.
Islam is the official religion in Brunei.
The official language of Brunei is Malay.
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The most popular form of literature is a
poetry style called sajak.
The Oilfields Labourers
Tr: Siti Badriyah biti Haji Md Yusuf
Ed: Hajah Sharifah Khadijah Husien Alkaff
Vocabulary
Distraught – deeply upset and agitated.
Mist - a cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in
the atmosphere at or near the earth's surface limiting
visibility, but to a lesser extent than fog.
Derrick - the framework over an oil well or similar
boring that holds the drilling machinery.
Protrude - extend beyond or above a surface.
Conflagration - an extensive fire which destroys a
great deal of land or property.
Stumps - the bottom part of a tree left projecting
from the ground after most of the trunk has fallen or
been cut down.
Taunting - intended to provoke someone in an
insulting or contemptuous manner.
Akimbo - with hands on the hips and elbows turned
outward.
Suspended - When something is suspended, it is
"left hanging;" it is neither in full operation nor
permanently ended.
Smouldering - burn slowly with smoke but no
flame.
Emblazoned - conspicuously inscribe or display a
design on.
Fractic - wild or distraught with fear, anxiety, or
other emotion.
Summary
Kampong Umbi was on fire and forty
houses were burnt down on which Yazid house was
included. Together with those houses that were
destroyed by the fire, an old man became a casualty.
That old man suffered from a disastrous event,
which resulted from his sudden death. The old man's
death was witnessed by Yazid and it somehow
disturbed his mind. It turned him to acquire
imagination. He suddenly visualized the memory of
fire that was occurred along with the memory of that
old man that he once carried at his very last breath.
Yazid went to the newly discovered oilfield
together with his co-worker which includes Jamal,
Ghani, and Ibrahim. They usually work with a
derrick and they are being called as derrick-climbers.
During a break, they talked about the death of the old
man which was then explained by Yazid to his
companions. aligned with this, the talk about death
was started and it seemed like Jamal, by the notice
of Yazid, was somehow afraid on death and wishing
only a death with peaceful death.
"Everyone dies differently and they have the
right to choose on how they want to die", stated by
Yazid and he used the death of his father as a
representation about how he perceived what death
really is. After the talk about death, they began
thinking about how long they will be a derrickclimber knowing the fact that the oil is continuously
depleting.
They continued to work after than, and
began climbing the derrick. William, with a pair of
dark glasses noticed how noisy the oilfield labourers
were. Amidst the noise, something crashed into the
balusters and a body lay sprawled across the metal
rods. The labourers were frantic. They almost
couldn’t recognise their friend's face whom suffered
into sudden death.
Conclusion
The story entitled "Oilfield Labourers" is
indeed a well created story and in some point, I
wondered if it was really written based on a real
story. After reading the entire story, there was a
thing I realized about life and I somehow got such
important points about what life really is. I began
agreeing that life is really too short. We can’t deny
the fact that each one of us will face death and we
can’t escape from that. Given this, we should spend
our lives to the fullest having the idea that it is indeed
short, and we should find our respective purposes in
our lives because if not so, then we can consider our
lives as meaningless.
Understanding:
What role does Yazid play in the story? Is it
Major or Minor
Yazid's role in the story is a major character.
It is for the reason that we were told about the story
through his point of view, also, he was the only one
who led us to the direction of the whole plot.
Who does he interact with? Who is/ are
important to Yazid?
He interacted with his friends and other
labourers of the Oilfield. It was not emphasized in
the story but just by judging it his friends are
important to him as well as the old man who died on
fire the night before they went to the derrick.
His view of life after the burnt down of the
village went downward spiral. He does not have
anything at all because it was all eaten by the fire, if
Adam was not kind enough to offer him a place for
a night he would not be anywhere.
What character is Yazid?
Yazid is considered an illegitimate ruler and
a tyrant by many Muslims due to his hereditary
succession, the death of Husayn, and his attack on
Medina. Modern historians take a milder view, and
consider him a capable ruler, albeit less successful
than his father.
What words are used to describe Yazid?
• Very high spirit
• full of praise for the happiness and peace
What desires and fears do the characters have?
Desire
Fear
He wants to He is afraid of
Yazid
fight the fire falling from
that engulfed fire and die.
the village.
He
wanted He is afraid
Yazid to leave that
Yazid
Adam
the village and might
be
build a new homeless for a
home.
long period of
time.
Peaceful
Harrowing
Jamal
death.
death and he is
afraid of being
left behind.
From your details above, how do you find Yazid,
Adam, Jamal, and William?
- Jamal and Yazid agreed to have the same
way of dying, easy without having to suffer.
- Adam & Jamal, appeared to be the closest
one with Yazid for he offered his house for
him to stay for the night.
- William was only mentioned when they
were talking about their work.
It was not clear who fell. Who do you think fell?
Was it intentional or accident?
- The story ended on a cliffhanger.
- Yazid was the one who fell and died in the
end.
- The one that he visioned one night at
Adam’s house is the one that happened in
the Oilfield.
Setting
What possessions does Yazid have?
Does the description of the burnt village give you
a vivid picture? What words or descriptions help
you picture out the place?
YES, it described that the Kampong Umbi
was on fire, there were two conflagrations or flames
of fire that were seen about a hundred and forty-two
yards from the burnt houses and the puffs of tiny
smoke dancing in the haze.
Oasis – a pleasant or peaceful area, or period in the
midst of a difficult or hectic place or situation
Comport –to behave in a particular way, bear or
conduct oneself
Tranquility – a state of peace or quiet
Sultanate – place ruled by a sultan
Go back to the text. Pick out the oilfield or
derrick description. Given a chance, would you
work in this place? Support your answer.
From the statements, “There, we are
building a new derrick.”, “Done with onshore
drilling, now they are exploring offshore.”, “It is
amazing that oil can also be extracted from the sea.”
and “Oil originated from the sea millions of years
ago.”.
Go back to the text. Pick out the oilfield or
derrick description. Given a chance, would you
work in this place? Support your answer.
YES, I would work in this place because as
an engineer, this is a field where engineers could find
work. Working in the Oil Industry pays well since
the price of oil continues to rise.
Is the author good enough in making you
understand the story place?
The author is good enough in making the
reader understand the story place since he used
adjectives that help to visualize the scenarios in the
story.
Culture
What cultures of Brunei are shown in the fiction?
- The owner of the house welcomes his friend
indeed and treats him well.
The two characters Yazid and Jamal value
their friendship wherein they always help
each other.
Are there any similarities with the Philippines?
- YES, it is similar to the Philippines because
Filipinos are known for being hospitable to
visitors and treating them properly.
- Filipinos are known for their Bayanihan.
Borneo’s Green Heart
Understanding:
From your readings, does each moniker fit
brunei? name proofs.
• Abode of Peace
• Haven of Tranquility
• Den of Hospitable People
What is the intention of this piece? Why do you
think it is created?
The perceived intention on this piece of why
it is created is because of the admiration of the author
for the country. Who wouldn't admire a country that
would capture one's heart to the point that one would
make a literary piece or anything that would express
one's admiration.
Does it serve its purpose?
Yes, it does serve its purpose, the purpose of
appreciating and by the way it defines the country's
quality and factuality.
Valuing:
Based on the poem, would you expound whether
the people of Brunei are proud of their country
or not?
By the poem's way of describing the place,
it is almost near to perfection, which any resident of
the said country would seem to be proud of.
Therefore, as I expound the poem, the people of
Brunei are much welcoming and proud of their
place.
Should it be the case?
Yes, because in order to know and
understand the culture of the said country, the people
and the society will always be involved.
Element of Poetry
Den – Comfortable room or place
Is there any element that makes the poem
appreciative?
The element that makes the poem
appreciative is its theme and the way it used
imagery, since the piece was constructed as a
descriptive poem.
Neoclassical – constituting a revival or adaptation of
the classical especially in literature, music, art, or
architecture
What rhythm is used? Is it effective?
The rhythm used in the poem is a random
and free rhythm. It is random since there is no
By: Bandar Seri Begawan
Vocabulary
specific regular interval. It is free verse since the
poem has no metrical and no rhyming line that
follows the natural rhythm of speech. Since the
writer does not follow a metrical scheme in their
composition, the poem might be regarded as free
verse, where sound and rhythm arise in free-verse
lines.
Travel Brunei Darussalam
Bandar Seri Begawan
by John Tiong Chunghoo
Vocabulary
Jungle produce – any harvest found in forest
Subjects – topics, themes, issues, matter
Poignant – moving, emotional, touching, affecting
Egret – heron with long plumage
Gleaming – shining, glowing, glistening
Sampan – flat-bottomed wooden boat
Rucksack – backpack, bag
Cutlery – tableware (knives, forks, etc)
Flora and fauna – plants and animals
What is poignant about the new generation?
- The poignant is the schoolboys and girls
hurrying to get off boats only to get home.
- This demonstrates how beautiful that
generation is, being able to view and feel the
world.
Newlyweds speed away in their boats, what does
this mean? What is the implication?
- It signals the start of a new chapter in their
lives as a married couple.
- The Brunei river is an important element of
every citizen's life starting from their
younger years.
Do you believe the cutlery are gold?
- YES. Brunei is a wealthy country with a
distinct culture from the Philippines. Brunei
is also known as the land of gold.
Imagery
What items are described in the poem? How is
each described?
• Boats - Motored Boats
• Palace - Gleaming Sultan’s Palace
• blouse and skirt - Long white blouse and
ocean blue skirt
• Egrets - Orange and black species of egrets
• Monkeys - Long flabby nose, human like
faces of monkeys
Stilt - post, stand, support, pillar
Baju melayu – traditional Malay outfit for men
Harem – group of women associated with one
Understanding:
Why do you think the concert of Michael Jackson
is mentioned in the poem?
- The writer sees Michael Jackson as a friend
who can offer fun to people when they go
home.
- To also inform us that even the late Michael
Jackson admires the beauty of Brunei.
What is the focus of the second stanza? Why do
you think it is added in this piece?
- It focuses on Brunei's river and how
beautiful it is, reflecting the Sultan's palace's
elegance.
- It is included in the work since it is one of
the tourist attractions in Brunei that depicts
the beauty of the Sultan's palace
How come there are filling stations in the river?
- People use motor boats to travel up and
down the river, and the oil stations fill their
oil tanks. It is their mode of transportation.
Are the descriptions effective?
- YES. It allows the readers to have a tangible
vision of the objects that emphasize the
poetry and making it more vivid.
What is the purpose of their description?
- The goal of their description is to assist
readers in visualizing the objects in the
poem.
- This could improve the readers’ creative
thinking while reading poetry like this.
Culture
How the persona in the poem value the country?
- Brunei Darussalam is a lovely and wealthy
country.
- Brunei Darussalam, from its natural beauty
to its culture, is a kind of worth-travellingto country.
How the persona in the poem value the country?
- It showcased the beauty and uniqueness of
Brunei Darussalam as it tells the poignant
details of the country.
- The writer of the story is observed to be in
love with Brunei Darussalam’s beauty.
MYANM
AR
 From 15th century up to the 19th century,
palm leaf (scratched with stylus) and fold
paper literature became common. The
authors were monks, educated courters, and
court poetesses. Prose works during this
period were few, mostly Buddhist scriptures
and chronicles of kings.
 Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is
recognized by the world as the Golden Land
because of the abundant use of gold leaf on
its temples and shrines.
 Myanmar was one of the first areas in
Southeast Asia to receive Buddhism, and by
the 11th century it had become the center of
the Theravada Buddhist practice.
 Burmese literature was historically
influenced by Indian and Thai cultures.
Close Proximity
to show how much she respects and loves them. Daw
Pan U and U Po Sein are proud, selfish parents. Their
ego always comes first, which leads to an unhappy
family and deprives their daughter of the chance to
feel valued and cherished.
2. Do the characters have fears and limitations?
Yes, all of them have fears and limitations.
Ma thaw is afraid of making her parents feel
unappreciated and uncared, so she always obeys
them to show how much she loves them. Daw Pan U
is limiting herself to being a wife to her husband.
And in the same way, as Daw Pan U is limiting, U
Po Sein also limits himself to be the head of their
family. They are afraid to make their daughter feel
alone so they don’t leave their house.
Emotional Appeal
1. How do you feel about Ma Thaw and her
parents?
I feel sad about the kind of set-up that their
family has. I feel empathy for what Ma Thaw is
going through because I know that it is hard to be
with someone who is not on good terms with each
other. I also feel bad for her parents since they are
trapped in a union that prevents them from being
happy.
Bickering - argue about petty and trivial matters
2. If it were not written that way, do you think
you will still feel the same?
No, because it could change the mood and
the feeling that the story wants to express. When
writing a story, the choice of words is very important
as it expresses the message and idea that the author
wants to convey. With the correct word choices,
readers may more readily comprehend the principles
of the story and develop a connection to the
characters.
Toddler - a child approximately 12 to 36 months old
Heave - lift or haul (a heavy thing) with great effort.
Theme
by Journal Kyaw Ma Ma Lay
Vocabulary
Rubbish - worthless or useless.
Pagoda - a Hindu or Buddhist temple or sacred
building, typically a many-tiered tower with
multiple eaves
Stingy - unwilling to give or spend; ungenerous
Pussy - a pet name for a domestic cat
1. What reality of life is shown in the story?
The story shows that there is no such perfect
family. Some people suffer from having a family
that seems to be lifeless.
Characterization
2. If you were Ma Thaw, how will you react to
your parents?
If I were Ma Thaw, I think I could also obey
and sacrifice myself for them but not up to the extent
that I would lose my happiness and dreams because
of that kind of set-up in our family. I will try to find
ways how they could get along with each other
because I think that as long as there is time, there is
still a chance for them to change their perspective for
us to have a happy family.
1. How is Ma Thaw as a daughter? Daw Pan U as
mother? and U Po Sein as father?
Ma Thaw is a kind, selfless, and obedient
daughter who constantly helps and obeys her parents
3. Why is it the title of the fiction?
Close proximity simply means something is
near. It could be associated with the word closeness
Spinster - an unmarried woman, typically an older
woman beyond the usual age for marriage.
Nirvana - literally means "blowing out" or
"quenching". It is the most used as well as the
earliest term to describe the soteriological goal in
Buddhism: release from the cycle of rebirth.
and nearness. I think the author used this word as its
title to show the contrasting meaning. It could be the
twist that most of us want and I also think that it
embodies the phrase “so near and yet so far” because
even if Ma Thaw’s parents are near to each other,
their feelings and affection are far from each other.
dame – means a matronly or elderly woman.
plum – means an oval fleshy fruit that is purple,
reddish, or yellow when ripe and contains a flattish
pointed pit.
Culture
Narration
1. What cultural practices are shown in the
fiction?
The story demonstrates how committed
Burmese people are to their religion. The culture of
annual food offering is held on a full-moon and they
practiced giving a spoonful of rice and a donation to
the shrine and monks, respectively. People also go
to pagodas which is usually associated with a
Buddhist temple complex where Buddhism was long
the prevailing religion. It also showed that wives
were necessary to take the items from their husbands
and carry them inside the house. Another point is
that when the novel was written, arranged marriages
were still relevant.
1. Who is telling the story?
The person who tells the kindergarten
teacher’s story is his friend, who is a lecturer at the
University of Yangon, as mentioned in the first
sentence of the story. In which he is also the author
of the said story.
2.Do you think Filipinos would adopt these?
In terms of religion, it is not possible since
we have a major religion of Christian and Burma
have a Buddhist majority. But culturally, people
share traits of personal warmth and hospitality. The
culture of wife taking the husband items is still
prevalent. However, in terms of arrange marriage
the majority of the people in our country would feel
that marriage should only occur when two people
truly love one another.
3.. As a future businessman, teacher, engineer,
health worker, technician, craftsman, etc., does
knowing their culture be of any help?
Yes, it is advantageous since understanding
such culture may help us to be aware of them and
treat them appropriately. Being professional requires
ensuring cultural diversity, especially at the
workplace to understand why individuals behave the
way they do and to prevent misunderstanding,
especially if you are involved in activities or
initiatives involving people from outside of our
country.
THE KINDERGARTEN
TEACHER
by Aung Thinn
Vocabulary
shriek – means a high-pitched piercing cry or sound,
or a scream.
reluctant – means unwilling and hesitant.
gape – means a wide opening.
2. What point of view is used?
It was told from the first-person point of
view, or first point of view. He personally
observed/saw how the kindergarten teacher truly
teaches, thus what he described exactly happened.
3. Why is he telling the story
To tell us exactly what he witnessed of how
his friend teaches, and possibly to reflect on good
teaching since he is also a teacher. So that he can
share his style of teaching with the readers,
particularly kindergarten teachers, because we all
know how difficult it is to teach or get the attention
of children at that age.
4. How is the story told? What technique is used?
The narrator described an experience he had
while visiting his hometown, where he witnessed the
talent of his friend who is also a fellow teacher. He
used a flashback technique in his shared story. His
storytelling allows you to easily picture the events he
describes, which other readers will definitely
appreciate.
Emotional Appeal
1.How did you feel while reading?
We are impressed with the technique of that
kindergarten teacher because he had a unique way of
teaching the children. And that way of his is also
entertaining to the children while at the same time
the children are learning in a fun way. The class does
not become boring for the children because of the
story that the kindergarten teacher makes.
2. How does the narrator feel about his
kindergarten friend teacher as compared to him
who is also a teacher?
The narrator realizes that the character of his
friend is the best example of a good teacher because
he has a unique teaching method that can be more
effective for children's learning as a kindergarten.
Because what is in the book is not the only thing he
shares in teaching, the children may still learn other
lessons from the stories he shares. The author also
witnessed how much the children enjoyed while
studying.
New Historicism
1.What expressions in the story tell you this is not
a millennial? that it is Myanmar?
The narrator mentioned the year when he
witnessed it and at that time, we knew that it is not a
modern era where the old way of teaching is still
there and maybe the equipment, they use are almost
improvised and another one about them is their
alphabet is different from other countries in the
region.
2. Can this kind of teacher still be seen in
schools?
In our opinion, there are still teachers like U
Nyan Sein especially in this modern era, wherein
other teachers can share their unique way of
teaching, and in which we are seeing more
improvement in teachers' teaching as time goes on.
3. Are the parents outside the classroom similar
to the parents in Philippines?
Most of the parents in our country are like
the grandmother of one of the students who is out
there looking after their children. And it can't be
taken away from parents maybe because they want
to see their children learn.
Valuing
1.Does the kindergarten teacher love his pupils?
What is your proof?
Yes, the kindergarten teacher loves his
pupils because he does everything to make them
learn. Let's say that not all teachers can do what he
does just to make the children learn. I can see his
dedication as a teacher and desire to teach children.
He makes everyone interactive during their class
time.
2. What is the relevance on pupil skills of the
drawing and plum lessons?
With the technique that the kindergarten
teacher did, it served as the initial way for the
children to learn how to draw in that way, he was
also able to correct the children in a way that they
can easily understand and remember for a long time.
NOTE: The earliest forms of Burmese literature
were on stone engravings (kyauksa) for memorials
or for special occasions such as the building of a
temple or a monastery. Later, palm leaves were used
as paper (peisa), which resulted in the rounded forms
of the Burmese alphabet.
THE WEDDING RECEPTION
Vocabulary
jetty - a landing stage or small pier at which boats
can dock or be moored
shuddered like a malarial victim - tremble or shake
convulsively
mend - to repair (something broken, torn, or worn)
melee - a confused mass of people
sprigs of flowers - A small stem bearing leaves or
flowers, taken from a plant
spick and span - spotlessly clean and well looked
after
high chignon - a sleek, elegant hairdo that's similar
to a bun
sauntered up - to walk in a slow and relaxed way
goner - a person or thing that is doomed or cannot
be saved
false tress - a fake long lock of a woman's hair
Imagery
1.How do you find the story?
This story depicts the simplicity of the
newlywed couples. They may experience problems
on their wedding day. But the most important thing
is they were united as one witnessed by the Almighty
God.
2. Pick out some parts in the story which you can
easily imagine.
• The group of people dressed in their best
stood in the narrow lane, necks stretching to
catch a glimpse of the car coming towards
them on the bumpy road. They could see it
in the dust, rolling as slowly as if it were a
horse-drawn cart.
• It was, but just barely. The back end of car
had been cut, remodeled and roofed; it was
exactly the sort of car used for transporting
vegetables from the jetty to the market.
•
“Come, come, you can sit on my knee.” The
girl was overjoyed to be riding in the front
seat and her wide grin showed off missing
front teeth.
3. What words make you vividly see the scene?
The first part of the story made me imagine
of the guesses are too crowded waiting for the
transport to attend the wedding reception. Although
they are too many, they were very happy and very
excited to attend.
The next one describes Mar Mar Tin, the
bride, as she appeared on her wedding day. She must
have felt stunning in her gown, make-up, and hair
for that important day.
Culture
1.Aside from the imagery used, what other factor
makes you easily understand the wedding culture
of Myanmar?
It was simpler to imagine and comprehend
the wedding culture in Myanmar because of the
plot's simplicity and the imagery's application.
2. Is the wedding culture comparative to our
wedding in Philippines?
Yes, it was comparable to the weddings of
regular Filipino people, such as those who reside in
the province. Filipino couples and their guests
frequently travel to a wedding reception
immediately following the wedding, which is
typically held in the home of the bride's family. This
means that the wedding celebration does not end in
the church.
3. Which are similar? Give details.
The wedding customs in Myanmar are quite
similar to those seen in the Philippines. The story
made it clear that the groom has a major role in
ensuring that the wedding would go smoothly. I also
searched that the guesses also brought gifts and cash
as a help for the couple to start from their feet. It is
somehow similar to “sabog” tradition in the
Philippines. The bride and groom in the Philippines
are really engaged in the preparation of the wedding.
Characterization
1.How is Mar Mar Tin as a bride and a daughterin-law?
Mar Mar Tin draws attention to herself as a
bride by arriving at the church looking even more
stunning in her dress, makeup, and haircut. Every
father would want her as their sons' future wife. As
they travel to the church, she shows her concern for
him by checking in to see how he is doing. Her
husband’s father is regarded by her as her own
father.
2. How is Sein Hla as a groom and son?
Sein Hla, the groom. He made sure that
everything was ready for his wedding, even
forgetting that, aside from hid soon-to-be wife, Mar
Mar Tin, he was the most important person in his
wedding. He was a loving, thoughtful, and forgiving
son. Although he must find his father's condition
difficult, it is clear from his acts that he cares for him.
He made sure his father wasn't merely left behind
while everyone else was having a good time.
Theme
1.What is the focus of the story?
The story focuses on the wedding culture of
Myanmar, the wedding reception and their tradition
and the post-wedding celebration.
2.How does the author make you see this? What
are used?
The reader was better able to picture and
comprehend the story since the author used
descriptive descriptions of the scenes. He also uses
imaginative words that made you visualize what
really happens in the story, so the story itself was
realistic.